On December 14th, the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis and BNP Paribas launched the program “Odyssée Jeunes” (Youth Odyssey). This project will accommodate approximately 12,000 middle school students of Seine-Saint-Denis (Department outside of Paris) on 300 school trips in France and other foreign countries over the next two years.

To participate in the Odyssée Jeunes teachers and school directors will submit their educational projects/trips to the Director of Education of the General Council of Seine-Saint-Denis. They will then be reviewed by a committee of representatives, teachers, parents, students, schoolchildren, BNP Paribas, and the Foundation of France.

This is a great opportunity for classes to discover and experience new cultures, becoming a global citizen. It also reduces inequalities in accessing this non-formal method of education, playing a positive role in the everyday education of the students. Beyond financial support, both partners are able to put their expertise and networks to use. With educational class trips to Italy, BNP Paribas benefits from partnerships that BNL (the Italian subsidiary of the bank) has with many local cultural institutions.

The Odyssey is the epic poem of Ulysses, a Greek hero, who at the end of the Trojan War returns to his home. During this ten-year voyage, Ulysses travels across many new lands and discovers new cultures. He is also known for his cunning intelligence. The story represents journey, adventure, and knowledge, being an ideal name for this new educational program.